If Champagne is your thing, Nick and Nora’s is the place for a glass of celebratory bubbles. This Roaring '20s-themed temple of decadence has walls of Champagne bottles and cocktails themed around the heroes and villains of a hard-boiled crime book. Nick and Nora Charles are characters created by crime writer Dashiell Hammett and with just one visit to this glitzy cocktail bar from the Speakeasy Group, you will think it is a crime to go anywhere else.
August 2023: Spring hasn't sprung just yet but the recent spate of warmer days are encouraging. In any case, venturing outside is a little easier when you end up at one of these cosy dens. Whether you opt for a steaming mulled wine, a spicy Marg, a warming whisky or something a little more left of field, our list of best bars will show you where to find the most impressive of the lot.
It has been a challenging couple of years for hospo but with the weather finally turning and lockdowns in the rearview mirror it is time for Melbourne to do what she does best: eat, drink and be merry. Melbourne has some of the best bars in the world, whether you are looking for the laser-like focus of 16-seater Above Board or the rock ‘n’ roll ‘she’ll be right’ of Heartbreaker. You can find temples heroing whisky and palaces dedicated to gin; you can sip naked wines or suited-and-booted cocktails, grab a craft beer and a parma or a late-night Gimlet and a burger.
If you're looking for a bar to head to, we've rounded up the top 50 bars that we are really excited about right now, many of which happen to be winners of the Time Out Food and Drink Awards for 2022.